Zippy Pouch

Zip up everything you need in this handy pouch.

What You Need

• Pattern for Zippy Pouch
• ¹⁄₄ yard cotton fabric
• 7-inch-long zipper
• Chalk
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Hand sewing needle and thread
• Sewing machine and thread

Let’s Review

• Turn a corner (page 35)
• Hand-sew a running stitch or whipstitch (page 151)

A Note For Grown-Ups

Zippers are fun but can be a bit tricky. In this project, we show how to hand-sew a zipper onto the pouch. Once a sewer understands how a zipper is attached, sewing it on by machine may be an option. If your child’s machine has a zipper foot, your sewing machine manual should have directions for using it.

1. 1. Find the pattern in the back of the book and use chalk to trace it onto the fabric two times. Cut out the fabric.
   
2. 2. Lay the two pieces of fabric so that the good sides are facing up and the zipper is in the middle of two longer edges. The zipper is facing up too.
   
3. 3. Flip one fabric piece over onto the zipper. Match the edge of the fabric to the edge of the zipper. Pin the fabric to the zipper. The zipper will extend beyond the fabric on each end.
   
4. 4. Hand-sew the zipper to the fabric with a running stitch.
   
5. 5. Fold back the fabric so that you see the top of the zipper. Press the fold with your fingers. With good sides up, line up the other piece of fabric with the zipper.
   
6. 6. Flip the unsewn piece of fabric over. Match the edge of the fabric to the edge of the zipper that has not been sewn yet. Pin the fabric to the zipper like in step 3.
   
7. 7. Hand-sew the zipper to the fabric with a running stitch like in step 4.
   
8. 8. Fold back the fabric so you see the top of the zipper, and finger-press. Both pieces of fabric are sewn to the zipper. Unzip the zipper halfway so that you can turn the pouch good side out after sewing it with the machine.
   
9. 9 . Fold the pouch at the zipper so the good sides are together. Pinch the ends of the zipper together and pin them in place. Put a pin in the middle of the fabric so the sides don’t move while you sew.
   
10. 10. Beginning at the top, machine-stitch the three open sides of the pouch. You will sew through the ends of the zipper on both sides of the pouch; reverse stitch at the beginning and end. Turn the corners carefully.
    

    Be careful to only sew on the fabric part of the zipper, not the metal part, or your needle will break!

11. 11. Clip the corners of the seam allowances. If the ends of the zipper are long, trim them near the sewn edge. Turn the pouch good side out through the open zipper.
    
12. Fill your pouch and zip up!
    

Make It Yours

• Change the size of the pouch to fit your needs. Make sure your zipper is long enough to fit the new size.
• Make each side with a different fabric.
• Add a handle for a smart clutch.
• Sew by hand.